Tahlequah Daily Press Obituaries

Dr. Virgil Lee Carter

December 23, 1926 - July 30, 2016

Dr. Virgil Lee Carter of Tahlequah, OK passed from this life on Saturday, July 30, 2016. He was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher and most of all faithful Christian. Virgil was most proud of his family and extended family and was happiest when the house was filled with relatives and friends. His Cherokee heritage was another source of pride and he was so humble when the Cherokee Nation presented and honored him with a Cherokee Warrior vest. He was a gifted and talented teacher who influenced thousands of students throughout Kansas, and Oklahoma. Virgil could fix, draw and sculptor almost anything. He loved to hunt and fish and even water ski but only after the fourth of July! After his retirement, he decided to become a locksmith and which he did. He was an amazing man and loved to share his talents to help others, especially the Church of Christ where he was a deacon for many years.
Dr. Virgil Lee Carter was born on December 23, 1926 to Houston Carter and Elizabeth Ross Carter in Park Hill, Oklahoma. He attended elementary at Keys, Oklahoma, middle school at Tahlequah and graduated in 1945 from Sallisaw High School. After High School he was drafted into the Army during WWII and was stationed in Naples, Italy. After the war, he attended Northeastern State University and graduated with a degree in education. On October 31, 1947, he married Helen Louise Capps and to this home two boys were born, Ronald Ray in 1948 and Richard Lee in 1949. After teaching in Oklahoma, and Kansas for many years, the Carter's returned to Cherokee, County in 1968 where he then began teaching in Muskogee, Oklahoma at Alice Robinson Middle School. During this time he also started attending the University of Arkansas, then completing his doctorate degree in Industrial Education in 1975.
In 1977, Virgil began teaching at Northeastern State University in the Industrial Arts (Metals) department. Then in 1995, he chose to retire from a long teaching career of over 44 years. After retiring, he owned and operated Carter Key & Locksmith Shop.
Virgil and Helen enjoyed traveling and took many memorable family vacations. He loved the winters they spent at Port Isabel, Texas and being able to fish as much as he wanted. As the grandchildren started arriving, family vacations and many weekends on lake TenKiller have provided wonderful memories for the whole family. His children and grandchildren will cherish these memories of their father and grandfather and will forever carry them in their hearts.
Virgil married Geneva Green on September 13, 2014, despite the fact that he was recovering from hip surgery. They enjoyed being together in the short time they had. They loved to spend time at Branson, Missouri, and traveling as his health would allow them too.
Virgil leaves behind his wife Geneva, of the home in Tahlequah. One son, Rick Carter and his wife Sandy, of Tahlequah, OK, daughter-in-law, Kathy Carter, of Little Rock, AR. Six grandchildren, Todd and his wife Kari of Broken Arrow, OK, Michael Carter of Muskogee, OK, Eric Carter of Raleigh, NC, Brent and his wife Dacia of Edmond, OK, Kelly Carter Bittle and her husband Joshua of Little Rock, AK, Blayne Carter and his wife Sarah, of Urbandale, IA. Great-grandchildren, Anna, Gracie and Todd Carter of Broken Arrow, OK, Haleigh and Rylan Carter of Edmond, OK, Carter, Allee, Charlie and Cameron Bittle of Little Rock, AR, Paige, Landon and Hayley Carter of Urbandale, IA. One brother Gene Carter and his wife Phyllis of Tahlequah and a host of nieces an d nephews, cousins and friends. Those welcoming Virgil to eternal glory are his parents, his 1st wife Helen, his beloved son Dr. Ron Carter, a granddaughter through marriage Donna Trawick Carter, a great-granddaughter, Jubilee Grace Carter, Sister-in-laws, Lavada Spears and Betty Draper, brother-in-law, Bill Draper and sister-in-law, Bertie Carter, brother-in-law, Leroy Capps . As our Carter family here o earth bids our loved one goodbye we are so grateful to God for blessing us with Virgil. We are comforted by the Holy Spirit and stand firm in the knowledge that this is only a temporary separation and that before long we will all be reunited in Heaven to Glorify God forever and ever. Memorials may be made to the Burnt Cabin Christian Camp or to the Northeastern State University Scholarship Fund in his name. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2016 at College Ave. Church of Christ in Tahlequah, with Dr. Lloyd Coppedge officiating. Interment will follow in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Heart Funeral Home.